There are rumors mounting that the producers of Fox’s top rated show, American Idol, are starting to sweat in the face of lower viewer ratings. While the show is consistently at the top of the ratings chart – it even beat out the Olympics back in February – compared to last year’s audience numbers, the show is starting to slip. Nielsen has this year’s audience at about 7 percent less than last year’s at this time in the competition, and last week, “Dancing with the Stars” on ABC actually beat it at the top of the charts. So, what are show producers doing about it? If you believe In Touch Weekly, they’re hoping to bring back loopy ex-judge Paula Abdul for next season.
It’s a huge secret, but America Idol producers might be trying to woo Paula Abdul back to the struggling show. Although still immensely popular, ratings are way down this season compared to when Paula was on the panel, and executives fear the loss of even more viewers when Simon Cowell leaves after this season. “They want Paula back,” the insider says. “They’re not sure if she’d be the fifth judge, but they are talking to her. People tuned in to see Paula’s wacky antics and her chemistry with Simon. The show is just not as much fun to watch without her.”
[From In Touch Weekly print version, April 16, 2010]
I don’t think Paula is the answer. If people tuned in to see her “wacky antics and chemistry with Simon,” what good will it be to bring her back next season when Simon leaving at the end of this season?If they could replace the annoying Kara DioGuardi with Paula, that might bring some viewers back. But that doesn’t address the more pressing issue of lackluster talent and way too many commercials and product placements, especially during the “results” show on Wednesday night. Maybe the show has just run its course.
Paula Abdul is shown on 3/27 and outside a restaurant on 4/13. Credit: WENN.com
i miss crazy paula
They need her back
they are falling in ratings
so much so, that they now have Ryan what’shisname doing weird things and acting drunk to get attention.
”If they could replace the annoying Kara DioGuardi with Paula, that might bring some viewers back”.
ABSOLUTELY
Ellen adds nothing, unless it’s that little current of nervousness that she exudes, which is unsettling and a net negative.
without Simon it will be sayonara.
The rating have fallen but I am sure there is nothing Paula can do to bring them up again. The show has just run its course and barring a major revamp of the show, it will continue to slide in ratings.
The show is dunzo.
The show is a lost cause without Simon. Having Paula instead of Kara would be marginally better but not enough to save it. But the heart of the issue this year IMO is the lack of talented people and the fact that “looks” are a bigger factor than singing ability. That’s why I stopped watching. It’s frustrating to watch truly gifted people leave and that bubble-head Tim keeps squeaking through.
Paula is going to be a judge on Simon’s show X factor. After everything the Idol producers did to her she will not be back. UNLESS they throw a boat load of money at her and I mean a boat load.
i want simon and paula, nothing else will do-although getting rid of Kara would be a HUGE step.
i wouldn’t even mind Ellen if Kara was gone. And i will say i do somewhat miss the celeb judges every few weeks. and 4 judges is still too much especially as kara goes on and on and on about nothing. at all. at least paula’s ramblings we’re endearing and I’d watch every week to see what crazy antics she had.
and simon my dear dear simon. he made me smile laugh and his remarks are almost always spot on.
I recently saw a full episode of the show (oh, the magic of the Internet) and kept wondering when it would end…
It was simply terrible. I’m not surprised it is (finally) slipping.
By the way, the Olympics did win in the ratings category over American Idol when the Men’s Halfpipe Snowboarding was on at the same time… And it was a rather consequent difference in number of viewers (over 5 millions at least).
Then again, snowboard is cool whereas Idol not so much. And that’s most definitely as polite a euphemism I could come up with regarding this way-too-many-acts tragedy.
@Tess–you hit it exactly right–Ellen just exudes nervousness. She is so out of place on that show. I can’t stand Kara AT ALL.
And I hope Paula tells them to sit on it and spin… violently. I absolutely hate what they did to her.
When Simon goes that show will die a slow death. Paula can’t save it and shouldn’t even try.
PLEASE TELL THEM HELL NO PAULA!!!!
The group singing at the begining the cheesy faux-mercials, the product placement. Seriously, it’s enough already. Without all of the drama, the show would be 20 minutes long. Ryan is a little twat and Simon can tell it has jumped the shark. Bail while you can.
Huh… Well I like Kara for what its worth. It took some time, and she had to grow on me, and sure I was annoyed totally by her when she acted all cloying, desperate and tried way too hard… but she has settled more as of late, and when she is acting professional and not worried about being light or charming or flirty- she gives the singers the best advice.
I agree that the show is dunzo, but I think the reason is that it has become a characterization of itself, and the “talent” being chosen isn’t chosen for sheer talent. Stop picking all pretty people and bring me 12 rockstars with pipes who can outsing Ruben Stoddard and Kelly Clarkston… then I will be into it again no matter who the judges are.
There was a segment on my local radio station the other day, they were getting people to call in with who they thought should replace Simon, my favorite suggestion was Elton John. I can see it now…The bitch is back!
Do you really think Elton would do it? I think that would tarnish his reputation.
I never liked that show anyway.
Agree with the above the show has run its course. I’ll add one thing – the cool kids don’t watch the show because it is now clearly showing itself to be a lame commercialized talent show for too many wannabees and thats how they see it. Why listen to Adam Lambert do WHole Lotta Love when you can listen to Zep do it live on a Youtube posting. Idol isn’t relevant to music – if it ever really was.
I can’t stand Kara with her constant pawing and leaning all over Simon, when he is clearly annoyed at her desperate flirtations and I am embarrassed for him when she does that..Also her constant criticizing him every time he critiques a performance is getting ridiculous and he looks like he just wants to slap the hell out of her. Also with Ryan acting so stupid and bizarre with he dumb remarks, I can’t believe the producers have not called both of them down for it…I mean are they blind or just ignorant to the fact that they are the two idiots that are pulling down the ratings…They never should have let Paula go…She can never be replaced…That’s obvious to them now I guess…
They need to shorten the show, by a long shot. It’s already clear who has talent. Boot 2 or 3 peeps a week. the show always loses steam with in the rounds of 9, 8, 7, 6… Crystal and Lee are so far above the rest it seems silly to pretend otherwise.
FOX doesn’t want Paula back. It wouldn’t change anything. All shows get tired after awhile. Even the auditions are boring now since they only show the bad singers. There is no need for an hour results show. Especially since there are so many ads and commercials. I don’t know if Paula is actually up for X-Factor or if it’s just rumor.
Elton has already said he wouldn’t do Idol.
I think the producers have lost sight of what made the show great, which was talented singers, no matter how they looked. I haven’t watched the show in years, and it used to be one of the staple shows for me.
The lame group numbers REALLY need to go. I mean, seriously, who is throwing that crap together?
THIS SHOW USED TO BE GREAT NOW IT SUCKS! PAULA AND SIMON GONE IS THE END!
love paula and simon!!!!!
Kara paws Simon and hangs all over him all throughout the show every week, making it too embarassing to watch. Not only does she make her husband look like an ass by disrespecting him that way, but she makes Simon look like an idiot too, for acting like he’s enjoying it. Kara’s behavior makes it look like she has emotional problems or something.
Four judges – none of them singers for a singing competition.? This quartet is really lame at this point.
They have nothing constrictive to say to help these kids – and they cast them!
A season of embarassment with such inferior talents.. Crystal and Casey and we’re done. Pitiful!
Crystal and Casey? Nah. Lee and Siobhan…I think they will be the final two.
I don’t have any strong feeling about Kara either way; I do like Paula, though. I think it would be best if they just went back to the original 3 judges!
Ellen brings nothing to the table. Oh, except “You look nice.” I like her as a human and on her own show, but as a judge on ANY show she gets on my last damn nerve. At least Kara knows something about music. That’s a start. Bring in RuPaul and
Amanda Lepore, that would be interesting and they’ve both put out music! Yea!
She looks nice, but further more, naahh